Census: U.S. urban centers lose without immigration

Data from the Census Bureau suggest that large urban centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco benefit from the growth caused by immigration while native-born residents leave for other areas. The information looked at the past 6 years of population statistics and showed that without immigration the populations of many cities would have faced light to moderate losses:

• Boston’s population would have shrunk by 101,000 people without immigration.
• The population of New York City would have lost over a half million residents sans immigration but instead gained over 1 million people.
• Though immigrants in St. Louis make up 5% of the population, a net gain of 26,000 immigrants helped offset the loss of 23,000 people to other areas.
• Miami may have dropped down one place to become the U.S.’ 6^th largest city, but immigration boosted South Florida’s population by 9%.

Immigration growth has also been a boon to small communities around the country. In the case of Arkansas, for example, Hispanic immigrant growth is among the fastest in the country and has contributed over $6 million to the state’s budget. (This according to a study separate from the one by the Census Bureau).

The U.S. is not alone to profit from immigration growth; Canadian census figures released last month illustrated that 2/3 of the country’s population growth came from immigrants and Canada is on track to become 100% dependent on immigration for growth.

Links- MSNBC, WALB, stltoday.com, Miami Herald, The Morning News, Cnews, CBC, The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK

Image- People’s Daily Online (Demonstrators marching across the Brooklyn Bridge for immigrant rights in April 2006)